Compound steam-engine



(No Model.)

` 4 sham-sheet 1. R. M. BECK.

GOMPOUND STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

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GOMPGUND STEAM ENGINE.

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lamtenteleb.l 25, 1890.

UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. BECK, OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOUND STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,110, dated January 25, 1890.

I Application filed May 22, 1889. Serial No. 311,700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chambersburg, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has reference to an improvement in compound steam-engines. Its object is to simplify and perfect the construction of engines of this class.

It consists, essentially, of two cylinders-a hi glnpressure and alow-pressuremplaced side by side, their piston-rods being attached to one cross-head, and their valves operated by one governor and through 'one rocker-arm arrangement.

The invention further comprises the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of my improved compound steam-en gine. Fig. 2 is a sectional. planview of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the two cylinders and their valve-chambers Fig. 4 is a trans-- verse section of the saine.` Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectionjon the line of Fig. 2. Figs. 0, 7, and S represent details of a modified construction of the cross-head.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout all the different figures of the drawings.

The frame of my improved engine is con-4 parts are given by w'ay of example only and may be modified and changed as desired.

Adjacent to the left end of the cylindrical guide-frame C are the two horizontal steama cylinders, D denoting the larger or low-press1 nre cylinder, and E the smaller or highpressure. The low-pressure cylinder contains a piston D', having a piston-rod D2. The highpressure cylinder contains a piston E', having a piston-rod E2. The ends of the piston-rods D2 and F.2 are connected to the single crosshead F, which slides between suitable guides in the curved part C of the frame. rllhe connectingaod G connects the cross-head F with the crank-disk J on the engine-shaft H, which is journaled or supported in suitable bearings H II in the main frame. The engine-shaft H carries the drive-pulleys I I, to which belts a're applied for the transmission of power. On the shaft l-I is also the enginegovernor, preferably of the kind shown in my previous patent, No. 359,000, of March S, 1887, consisting of a governor-wheel K, keyed to the shaft and carrying weighted levers pivoted within the wheel-rim, said levers being' connected by links to the arms of a vibratory' sleeve mounted on the hub of the governorwheel and connected with a shifting eccentric L, having an arm pivoted to said wheel, to which eccentric is fastened a connectingrod M, whereby the valve or valves of the cylinders are automatically actuated through certain connections to be hereinafter explained. It is needless to further explain here the detailed construction of the governor. Moreover, it will be understood that I am not confined to the special form of governor herein mentioned, but may use other forms if I wish.

Below each cylinder is the valve and valve-= chamber belonging thereto.

In Fig. 3 the two cylinders, and also the two valveboxes, are seen in end view, and also the steam-supply pipe N, with the valve a, is clearly represented.

In Fig. t we have a cross-sectional view of the cylinders and valve-chambers. O dei notes the valve-chamber belonging to cylinder E, and O that belonging to cylinder D. The steam enters the highpressure cylinder E from supply-pipe N through valve-cham; ber O, and after acting on the piston. in said cylinder it is exhausted into the low-pressure cylinder D, wherein it acts on the piston there, and then it finds an outlet through the valvedcliamber O into the exhaust-pipe O2. It is unnecessary to enumerate and describe the several portsand passages by which the steam nds its way through the cylinders, chambers, &c.

The valve O3 (see Fig. l) within valve-chamber O is attached to a valve-rod P, the other end of which is loosely connected to the end. of the horizontal spindle b, carried by the rockerarm c, that swings on its journal d, which has a bearing in the frame and carries at one end the crank c, to which is pivotally connected the eccentric-rod M, above nientioned and described. (See Fig. 5.) The rocker-arm spindle b operates Vwithin a slot f in the part B of the main frame. It has just been stated that valve-rod Pis pivotally connected to one end of the spindle b. To the otherend thereof the valve: rod Pf is connected, which rod is attached to the valve within the valve-chamber O. In this way it will be observed that 4the valves of both lthe cylinders are operated., by onegovernorand through yone rockerarm connectionwithQ the valve-rods. This reduces the mechanism for 1 accomplishing the intended results to the simplest.forinwithout any loss of advantage. Not only is the mechanism simplified, but excellence in operation and accuracy of movement are achieved. e

In Figs. 6,f7, and` 8 is shown a modification in th@ COIlStruction and arrangement ot the cross-head.` Reference to Figs. l and 2 will show the cross-head F, which has an upper and lower slide, whereby` it is enabled to reciprocate in suitable guides in the curved `frame C, and said cross-head F is provided with opposite horizontally-proj ecting lugs 7c 7o, towhich the two piston-rods are respectively connected. l

In the modification of Figs. 6, 7 and-S, however, the cross-head is widened to provide slides on each side atl Z,in lieu of the center slide. This enables the piston-rods of the two cylinders to be connected to the cross-head near the center line of each slide. Observe in Fig. 7 the twopisto'n-rods lD2 and E2, and in Fig. 8 we see howr they are connected to the center lines of the slide. Y

I reserve the liberty of varying from the precise construction and arrangement herein I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a compound steam-engine, a highpressure and a low-pressure cylinder, the Valves for said cylinders, the governor on the engine-shaft, and the intermediate connections. between Vthe governor and valves,where by they are jointly operated, substantially as described.

2. In a compound steam-engine, the combination of a high-pressurecylinder, a .1ow-

pressure cylinder, the valves fo i .said cylinders, the governor on.y the engine-shaft,y and thevalve-rods for said valves, therockerfarm to which theyareconnected, andhthe eccentric-rod connecting the governor and rockerarm, substantially as described.

3. In a compound engine, the combination of a high-pressure cylinder, a lowfpressure cylinder, their pistons and piston-rods, the

cross-head to which thelatter areconnected,

e the valves for thecylinders, and the governor inders are connected, the engine-shaft H, crank-disk J thereon, and connecting-rod G,

together with the valve-chambers, valves, and valve-rods, all substantially as described.

5. The 'combination of the high and low pressure cylinders, the valve therefor, the

en gine-shaft, the wheel-governor on said shaft having eccentric L, the valve-rods P and P', connected to the valves of the cylinders, the rocker-arm journaled in the `main frame and having said val'veaods connected thereto, and

scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. BECK. Witnesses:

JOHN T. CoRcoRAN, D. K. WUNDERLICH. 

